STAND. COM. REP. NO.  217

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2015

 

RE:   H.B. No. 623

      H.D. 1

 

 

 

 

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 623 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO RENEWABLE STANDARDS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to further reduce Hawaii's dependence on imported fossil fuels and promote the growth of the State's renewable energy industry by, among other things:

 

     (1)  Updating and extending renewable portfolio standard and renewable standard goals, including a 100-percent renewable energy goal by December 31, 2040;

 

     (2)  Applying the same renewable energy goals to large self-generators and establishing reporting requirements and penalties for non-compliance;

 

     (3)  Updating and clarifying exemptions and qualifying circumstances for waiver of penalties; and

 

     (4)  Updating the Public Utilities Commission's independent study requirements to include the impact of renewable standards on developers' renewable energy prices.

 

     Hawaiian Electric Company, Hawaii Electric Light Company, Maui Electric Company, Blue Planet Foundation, Hawaii Renewable Energy Alliance, Hawaii Solar Energy Association, and numerous concerned individuals supported this measure.  Starwood Hawaii and a concerned individual opposed the bill.  The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Public Utilities Commission; Division of Consumer Advocacy of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Life of the Land; and two concerned individuals submitted comments.

 

     Your Committee has amended this bill by:

 

     (1)  Changing the 100-percent renewable-portfolio-standard and renewable-standard goal date from December 31, 2040, to December 31, 2045;

 

     (2)  Specifying that the renewable standards for large-self generators do not apply to electricity-generating equipment that was in service before July 1, 2015; and

 

     (3)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 623, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 623, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair